Earth boring machine



March 8, 1932. J H. KEIM I 1,848,351

EARTH BORING mourn:

Filed Sept. 13, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Lesier H. Keim.

March 8, 1932. im 1,848,351

EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

v 57 I 5s Fig.5. 5.2

\ I I I I] I I I II I I 1:1 III 121 5a YWITNESSES: INVENTOR Lester-H. Keim,

. I ATTORNEY March 8, 1932. I KE|M 1,848,351

EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1:5, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR Lesi'er H. K'eim. BY

ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESTER He KEIM, OF'CBAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO OIL WELL SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01' NEW JERSEY, AND ONE-HALF TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA EARTH BORING MACHINE Application filed September 13, 1924. Serial No. 737,489.

My invention relates to electric earth-boring systems, and more particularly to well drilling apparatus including a differential drive mechanism and electric motors and control.

Earth-boring systems embodying difierential drive mechanism coupled to a plurality of electrical motors, which mechanism is op eratively connected to the rotary drill table and a hoist drum have previously been disclosed. In these systems the differential mechanism functions to co-ordinate the operation of the drill mechanism and the hoist to obtain a rate of feed dependent upon the speed of rotation of the drill and regulated in accordance with the nature of the strata through which the drill is cutting.

My present invention diflers from the above in that I employ the standard draw works, including a hoist drum and countershaft, with the rotary drill table and differential drive, which makes the utilization of the present standard rotary drilling equipment feasible for use with the aforementioned differential drive. It is among the objects of my invention to provide an earth-boring device which shall be of simple, compact and durable mechanical construction, comprising a minimum number of operating parts so co-ordinated as to simplify well-drilling operations and so designed as to eliminate the difiiculties and the hazards existing in prior'devices.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an earth-boring system of the above-designated character which shall be efficient in its operation to provide uniform feeds and regulate the pressures of the drill member, an which shall permit of disconnecting the drilling member and providing a rapid retracting speed for the hoisting mechanism.

In practicing my invention, I utilize the standard draw-works in common use for earth-boring operations, comprising a cabletire mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characterstdesignate like parts,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an earth-boring system embodying the principles of my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the standard draw-works, together with my quilldrive mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a View, partially in section and partially in elevation," of the quill-drive mechanism illustrated in Figsrl and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view, in side elevation, of the earth-boring system mounted on a derrick in its operative position.

Referring to Fig. 1, the earth-boring system illustrated therein comprises a rotary drill table 1 having a rectangular opening 2 in the center thereof that is adapted to engage the end of the grief stem of the drill, in accordance with usual practice. The table 1 is provided with bevel gear teeth 3 (Fig. 4) that are adapted to engage a bevel-gear pinion (not shown), which is secured to the end of a drive shaft 4 (Fig. 1) that is 'ournaled in the bearings 5 of a bed-plate 6. lhe shaft 4 is connected, through a rocket-gear and chain, 7 and 8, respective to the drawworks (best shown in Fig. 2) which comprise a drum shaft 9 and a counter-shaft or line shaft 10, the axes of which are in parallel alinement, said drum shaft and countershaft being journaled for rotation in bearing brackets 11, which are usually secured to the draw works posts 12. The counter-shaft 10 also functions as a winch shaft, having winchheads 13.

A hoist drum 14, having wide-face flanges 15, is secured to the drum shaft 9, the main faces 16 of the flange members functioning as brake surfaces for brake bands 16a of the common type shown in Fig. 2. A pair of sprocket-wheels 17 and 18 are loosely mounted on and near opposite ends of the drum shaft 9 and are provided with clutch faces 19 and 20 that are respectively adapted to engage manually-operated clutches 21 and 22.

The countershaft 10 is operatively connected to the drum shaft 9 through a pair of sprocket gears 23 and 24, having chain connections 25 and 26 with the sprocket gears 17 and 18 of the drum shaft. The countershaft is further provided with a quill-drive mechanism 27, by which a connection is effected between the drill .table shaft 4, and a differ ential drive mechanism 28. shaft 10 is also connected to the differential mechanism by the chain-and-sprocket-connection 29 and 30.

The differential mechanism comprises a pair of driving motors 31 and 32 which are connected, by flange couplings 33, to a pair of gear shafts 34 and 35, respectively. The gear shafts are in parallel relation to a differential shaft 36 having a planetary gear structure 38 keyed or otherwise secured thereto. A pair of sleeve gears comprising gear wheels 39 and 41 having sun-gears 37 integral therewith are rotatably mounted on the differen tial shaft 36. The gear wheels 39 and 41 are connected by gear wheels 40 and 42 to the motor shafts 35 and 34 respectively. The gear-wheel 41 is also engaged by a gear-wheel 43 that is mounted on a drive shaft 44, which is connected by a sprocket-wheel and chain 45 and 46, respectively, to one side of the quill drive mechanism 27.

The differential mechanism is housed in a gear casing 47 (Fig. 4) which permits of adequate lubrication and protects the rotating elements from grit and dust. The casing member may be mounted in any suitable manner, as on a bed plate 48, in proximity to the draw-works.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the gearing and clutch mechanism on the draw works is more fully illustrated, and the quill drive mechanism in particular, is shown in Fig. 3. For instance, the sprocket-wheels 23 and 30 are shown keyed to the countershaft, and the clutch linkage is shown to be operative from one side of the draw-works, which is the side at which the operator is usually positioned.

Referring to Fig. 3, the quill-drive mechanism 27 therein illustrated comprises a sleeve gear 50, having a long sleeve extension 51 that is journaledon the countershaft 10. A large sprocket-gear wheel 52 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 51 and is provided with The countess a clutch face 53 that is adapted to engage a movableclutch 54. The movable clutch has a spline connection with the sleeve 51 so that, when the clutch member is engaged with the sprocket gear 52, the gear wheels 50 and 52 will rotate together. The clutch member 54 is linked to a shifting lever 55, extending to the operating side of the draw-works, as shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, the clutch 22 is linked to a shifting lever 56, extending to the operating side of the draw-works, and a hand lever 57 is connected to the clutch 21.

As shown in Fig. 4, the drive mechanism is not limited to rotary drilling but may be connected for cable-tool drilling, by providing certain familiar elements, such as a bull wheel, sand reel, crank shaft, Samson post, walking beam and the like. The bull wheel 60 may readily be operatively connected to the drive mechanism through the draw-works or directly to the differential device.

The operation of the illustrated apparatus is briefly as follows: Assuming the system to be connected as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the drill member 61- is inserted in the opening 2 of the table 1 and is connected to the hoist drum 14 by means of the crown block, in the usual way. For normal drilling operations, the table 1 is rotated by the driving chain 8, which is mounted on the sprocket gear 52 of the quill-drive mechanism. With the clutch 54 in engagement, the sprockets 50 and 52 are coupled to operate as an integral member, the gear wheel 50 being driven by the chain 46, which is connected to the sprocket wheel 45, which is mounted on one end of the drive shaft 44 of the differential mechanism.

The drum member 14 is operated for feed- I ing the drill during the drilling operation by the chain-and-sprocket-drive comprising chain 25 and the sprocket-Wheels 17 and 23, respectively. The wheel 23 is driven through the countershaft 10, which is connected by sprocket-wheel 30 and driving chain 29 to one end of the differential shaft 36.

l/Vith the connections as above explained, the system functions for normal drilling operations; that is, the rotary drill table is connected to the draw-works, and the hoist drum is similarly connected to co-ordinate the functions of the two to provide a rate of feeding the drill in proportion to the resist ance on the drill bit, which differs with the various formations of strata it enters.

If it is desired to hoist the drill tools, the clutch 54 of the quill is disengaged, thus disconnecting the drill table from the differential drive mechanism, and the clutch 21 is also disengaged and the clutch 22 simultaneously or subsequently engaged with the sprocket 18 to operatively connect the drum 14 with the countershaft 10 through the chain 26. The tooth ratios of the sprockets 18 and 24 are such as to obtain a more rapid rotation of the drum member for hoisting the drill,

which is essential for eflicient operation. The drum member and the drill member may be entirely disengaged from the differential mechanism, so that the countershaft 10 may be operated for the utilization of the winch heads 13 only. 7

It is evident, from the above description of my invention, that earth-boring'machines made in accordance therewith provide simple and efficient means fordrilling oil wells and the like in the shortest possible time, with the minimum amount of equipment and mechanical linkage for co-ordinating the several cooperating members. The adaptation of the standard draw-works to the illustrated boring mechanism saves considerable expense of initial equipment necessary and makes it possible to utilize mechanism that is usually available and which would otherwise be a total loss.

I have found that my earth-boring system makes theoperating mechanism available to the operator at one place and avoids the loss of time incurred by scattering the control members over the device.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be "made in the details of construction and the'design and proportion of the several co-operating parts without departing from the principles. herein set forth.

I claim as my invention:

1. An earth-boring system, comprising a shaft and hoist drum, a drill table, and two motors for driving the drum and table respectively, in combination with a quill drive and a differential drive mechanism for interconnecting the motors, said quill drive includ ing a sleeve gear loosely mounted on the shaft, a clutch gear loosely mounted on the sleeve of the sleeve gear and operatively connected with the drill table and clutch members for interconnecting the sleeve gear and clutch gear, and means for interconnecting the sleeve gear and the differential drive mechanism and means for interconnecting the differential drive mechanismand the shaft to drive the drum in response'to the operating load of the drill table.

. 2. An earth-boring system, comprising a standard draw works including a drill table, a hoist drum, a counter-shaft disposed to be connected to drive the hoist drum, and motors for driving the drum and table, in combination with a quill drive and a differential drive mechanism for interconnecting the motors,

said quill drive including a sleeve gear mounted on the counter-shaft, a slidably mpunt'ed clutch member splined to one end of the sleeve of the gear, a clutch gear .on the sleeve intermediate the clutch member and gear portion of the sleeve gear and means for connecting the clutch gear to the table, and means associated with said quill drive and diflerential and means interconnecting the differential drive mechanism and drum' to operate the' drlnlm in response to the operating load of the ta e.

3. An earth-boring system, comprising a standard draw works including a countershaft; a drill table, a hoist drum disposed to be driven from the counter-shaft and a pair of motors for driving said table and drum, in combination with a quill drive including a sleeve loosely mounted on the counter-shaft and a clutch gear mounted on the sleeve gear operatively connected to the drill table and a clutch mechanism for effecting engagement or disengagement of the clutch gear and the sleeve gear and with interconnecting means for said motors to operate said counter-shaft and in consequence the hoist drum as a function of the operating load of the drill table.

4. An earth-boring system, comprising a standard draw works including a counter shaft, a drill table and motors for operating the table and counter-shaft in combination with a differential drive mechanism and quill drive, said quill drive including a'sleeve gear mounted on the counter-shaft, a clutch gear mounted on said sleevegear operatively connected to said drill table and a clutch mechanism foreflecting engagement or disengagement of said clutch gear and the said sleeve gear, said differential drive mechanism including a differential, having sun gears and planet gears, connected to said motors, means connected to the differential for driving the sleeve gear and means connected to the differential for driving the counter-shaft.

5. An earth-boring system, comprising a substantially standard draw works including a drill table, a hoist drum, operating shafts, a counter-shaft, a plurality of sprock et gears mounted onsaid drum and countershaft in cooperative alignment, chains connecting said gears, clutches for disengaging said gears from said shafts, and a pair of motors for operating said drill table and hoist drum respectively, in combination'with a differential drive mechanism and quill drive, said quill drive including a sleeve gear loosely mounted on the counter-shaft, a'clutch gear mounted on said sleeve gear operatively connected to said drill table and a clutch mechsprocket, gear and chain assembly connected to a sun gear for driving the sleeve gear of the quill drive, and a sprocket, gear and chain assembly connected to the planet gears for driving the counter-shaft.

6. An earth-boring system, comprising a drill table, a hoist drum and shaft therefor, two motors for driving the drum and table,

a counter-shaft, a plurality of sprocket gears mounted on said drum and countershaft in cooperative alignment, chains connecting the gears, and a plurality of clutches operable to engage one of said gears and dis engage another of said gears and shaft, in combination with a quill drive and differential for interconnecting said motors, said quill drive including a sleeve gear, a clutch gear and clutch for interconnecting the sleeve and clutch gears, and means for interconnecting the differential and the sleeve gear to drive the table and means for interconnecting the diflerential and counter-shaft to drive the drum in response to the operating load of the table. i

. 7. An earth-boring systen1,'comprising a standard draw works including a drill table, hoist drum and counter-shaft connected to drive the hoist drum and operating means therefor, in combination with a quill drive including a sleeve gear, a clutch gear connected to drive the table and clutching means for connecting the clutch gear to the sleeve 2.5 gear, and a diflerential gear mechanism interconnecting the operating means with the hoist drum and sleeve gear to operate the hoist drum responsive to the operating load on the sleeve gear.

i to In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this twentythird day of Aug, 1924.

' LESTER H. KEIM. 

